The group accused SP Femi Ojo of working with the All Progressives Party, APC-led state government to recruit fake policemen and military men that would be used to cause mayhem before and during the November 11 governorship election in the state.
The grassroots security organization working in different communities, said it has gathered intelligence which indicates “a plan to deploy some fake police/military men to use military vehicles stationed in Government House, Lokoja to cause mayhem in Kogi East from Sunday 5th November 2023.”
A press statement issued by KENW’s Director of Public Communication, Wing Commander Iye Ayefu Akuh (rtd) on Sunday said that “SP Ojo OC Quick Response is mentioned to be the leader of this illegal outfit earmarked to undertake the exercise.”
According to the statement, the illegal outfits kitted with fake police/military uniforms are to work as if they are real policemen and soldiers from the Kogi State Police Command and the 12 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Lokoja.
The Neighborhood Watch also said “SP OJO OC Quick Response has been alleged to be working with a known notorious thug taking refuge in Government House as a member of this illegal outfit.”
The statement entitled “Urgent call on the CP Kogi State Command to protect the lives and properties of the people of Kogi East Senatorial District against SP Ojo, OC Quick Response, Kogi State Police Command” further reads:
“We make this special request so that no such military vehicles are deployed from Kogi Government House to kill innocent citizens anywhere in the State ahead of the gubernatorial election.
“Kogi Government House is an administrative office and not a military operational base for deployment of military vehicles by Officers of the Police Force.
“We wish to use this medium to strongly call on the authority for an investigation into the activities of SP OJO OC QUICK RESPONSE KOGI STATE POLICE COMMAND. SP Ojo has been known in public parlance in Kogi State to be a political policeman since 2019 when he was used to arrest perceived political opponents of the Governor.
“To further reaffirm this position, Last week he rearrested two men released on bail by the Kogi State High Court, Lokoja with an intention to have the boys eliminated as directed. This was bursted by deep and accurate intelligence only for him to turn around and say there was a petition against the men whom he is still keeping in his custody without charging them to court.”
KENW, therefore, urged the Kogi CP and the authorities of the Nigeria Police Force to urgently intervene and act on the intelligence report to save the lives and property of the innocent people of Kogi East.
It also called on the police authorities for an investigation into the activities of the embattled Police Commander.
All effort to speak with the Kogi State Police Public Relations Officer, SP William Ovye Aya on the development, proved abortive as at the time of filing this report as he dis not pick the calls put across to him by our correspondent.
The Advocate reports that the opposition Social Democratic Party (SDP) had some weeks back called on the Inspector General of Police to probe the activities of the Head of Police Quick Response Team (QRU), Femi Ojo, for allegedly aiding the activities of political thugs in Kogi State.
The police officer said to be under the direct control of Governor Yahaya Bello, has continued to engage in some unofficial acts that could lead to a breakdown or law and order in the state.
